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{{Short description|Line infantry regiment of the British Army}}
{{about||the march composed by John Philip Sousa|The Royal Welch Fusiliers (march)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
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The '''Royal Welch Fusiliers''' ({{lang-cy|Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig}}) was a [[line infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], and part of the [[Prince of Wales's Division]], that was founded in 1689; shortly after the [[Glorious Revolution]]. In 1702, it was designated a [[fusilier]] regiment and became the '''Welch Regiment of Fusiliers'''; the prefix "Royal" was added in 1713, then confirmed in 1714 when [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] named it the '''Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment of Welsh Fusiliers'''. In 1751, after reforms that standardised the naming and numbering of regiments, it became the '''23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welsh Fuzileers)'''. In 1881, the final title of the regiment was adopted.
It retained the archaic spelling of ''Welch'', instead of ''[[Wales|Welsh]]'', and ''Fuzileers'' for ''Fusiliers''; these were engraved on swords carried by regimental officers during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.antique-swords.com/AD77-1803P-Royal-Welsh-Fuzileers-Fusiliers-Officers.html|title=Napoleonic Welch Fuzileers Sword|publisher=Antique Swords|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> After the 1881 [[Childers Reforms]], normal spelling was used officially, but "Welch" continued to be used informally until restored in 1920 by Army Order No.56.
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Apart from [[Egypt]] and the [[Battle of Alexandria (1801)|Battle of Alexandria]] in 1801 and the [[Invasion of Martinique (1809)|Invasion of Martinique]] in 1809 the regiment saw little action in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] until being sent to the [[Peninsular War|Peninsula]] in 1810.<ref>Cannon, p. 134</ref> Between 1811 and 1814, it fought in many of [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington]]'s actions, including the battles of [[Battle of Albuera|Albuera]], [[Second Siege of Badajoz (1811)|Badajoz]], [[Battle of Salamanca|Salamanca]], [[Battle of Nivelle|Nivelle]] and [[Battle of Toulouse (1814)|Toulouse]].<ref>Cannon, pp.136–150</ref> At the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in June 1815, it was part of Lieutenant Colonel [[Hugh Henry Mitchell|Hugh Mitchell]]'s 4th Brigade in the 4th Infantry Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garethglovercollection.com/PrivateThomasJeremiah.htm |title=A Short Account of the Life and adventures of Private Thomas Jeremiah 23rd or Royal Welch Fusiliers 1812–37 |publisher=The Gareth Glover Collection |access-date=24 May 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402070835/http://www.garethglovercollection.com/PrivateThomasJeremiah.htm |archive-date=2 April 2009 }}</ref>
In the nineteenth century, the regiment took part in the [[Crimean War]], the [[Second Opium War]], the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Mutiny]] and the [[Third Anglo-Burmese War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/illustration/third-anglo-burmese-war-royal-welsh-royalty-free-illustration/1154126750|title=The Storming of Zeedaw: Royal Welch Fusiliers lying down in position for the attack before dawn|date=7 June 2019 |publisher=Getty Images|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref>
The [[Cardwell Reforms]] of 1872 linked most infantry regiments in pairs, but because the 23rd already had two battalions it was unaffected. Cardwell also introduced 'Localisation of the Forces', which established permanent regimental depots in county towns and brigaded the regular regiments with their local [[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]] and [[Volunteer Force|Volunteer]] battalions.<ref>Spiers, pp. 195–6.</ref> For the 23rd, this included:<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = List>''Army List'', various dates.</ref>
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* [[3rd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] – ''formed in 1897 from the Carnarvonshire companies of the 2nd VB''<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = WestlakeCarn/><ref name = RegtsCarn/><ref name = WestlakeFlint/><ref name = RegtsFlint/>
The 1st battalion served in the 1899 to 1902 [[Second Boer War]];<ref name = WestlakeWelsh/>
The 2nd battalion was stationed at [[Hong Kong]] from 1898 to 1902, and served in the multinational force involved in the [[Boxer Rebellion]] in China in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-welch-fusiliers |title=The Royal Welch Fusiliers | publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref> They fought alongside the [[United States Marine Corps]] (see pages 32–33 in official USMC paper published in 1995).<ref name=usmc>{{cite web|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/A%20Different%20War-Marines%20in%20Europe%20and%20North%20Africa%20%20PCN%2019000312500.pdf|title=A Different War-Marines in Europe and North Africa%20 PCN 19000312500.pdf|publisher=Marine Corps Historical Center|year=1994}}</ref> They transferred to [[British Raj|India]] in October 1902, and were stationed at [[Chakrata]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=10 October 1902 |page=9 |issue=36895}}</ref>
===20th century===
[[File:Colour of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Regimental Colour]] of the 6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, a Territorial unit of the Royal Welch Fusiliers<ref>{{cite web |title=6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers |url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=880 |website=Wartime Memories |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>]]
[[File:5th_Battalion,_Royal_Welsh_Fusiliers_Cigarette_Card.jpg|thumb|Player's cigarette card showing a [[Pioneer (military)|pioneer]] of the 5th (Flintshire) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1908 in full dress uniform.]]
The [[Haldane Reforms]] of 1908 converted the remaining Militia into the [[Special Reserve]] (SR) and the Volunteers into the [[Territorial Force]] (TF).<ref>Dunlop, Chapter 14.</ref><ref>Spiers, Chapter 10.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=
* [[3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers|3rd (Reserve) Battalion]] (SR) at [[Poyser Street drill hall, Wrexham|Poyser Street]] in [[Wrexham]]
* [[4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers|4th (Denbighshire) Battalion]] (TF) at Poyser Street, Wrexham<ref name = WestlakeDen/><ref name = RegtsDen/>
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During the Second World War, the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers was a [[Regular army|Regular Army]] unit and part of the [[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]], assigned to the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]]. It served in France in 1940 with the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]].<ref>Joslen, p. 240</ref> The battalion fought in the short but fierce battles of [[Battle of France|France]] and [[Battle of Belgium|Belgium]] and was forced to retreat and be evacuated during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]]. After two years spent in the United Kingdom, waiting and preparing for the invasion that never came ([[Operation Sea Lion]]), the 1st RWF and the rest of 2nd Division were sent to [[British Raj|British India]] to fight the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] after a string of defeats inflicted upon the British and Indian troops. The battalion was involved in the [[Burma Campaign]], particularly the [[Battle of Kohima]], nicknamed ''[[Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]] of the East'' due to the ferocity of fighting on both sides, that helped to turn the tide of the campaign in the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II|South East Asian theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burmastar.org.uk/stories/2nd-british-division/|title=2nd British Division|publisher=Burma Star Association|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929081558/https://www.burmastar.org.uk/stories/2nd-british-division/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The 2nd Battalion was part of [[29th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|29th Independent Infantry Brigade]] throughout the war. In 1942, it fought in the [[Battle of Madagascar]], then part of [[Vichy French]], before being transferred to the [[South-East Asian Theatre of World War II|South-East Asian Theatre]]. In 1944, the battalion and brigade became part of [[36th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|36th British Infantry Division]], previously an Indian Army formation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/36_Indian_Infantry_Division.pdf|title=36th Division|publisher=British Military History|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194908/http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/36_Indian_Infantry_Division.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:The British Army in Burma 1944 SE2889.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Royal Welsh Fusiliers move forward on a jungle path near Pinbaw, [[Burma]], December 1944]]
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In the summer of 1942, the 10th battalion was converted into the [[6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion|6th (Royal Welch) Battalion]], [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]].<ref>Horn, p. 270</ref> The 6th Parachute Battalion was assigned to the [[2nd Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd Parachute Brigade]], alongside the [[4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment|4th]] and [[5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion|5th]] Parachute battalions, originally part of the [[1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|1st Airborne Division]]. The battalion played a small part in the [[Allied invasion of Italy]] during [[Operation Slapstick]], an amphibious landing aimed at capturing the port of Taranto. After that, the 2nd Para Brigade became an independent brigade group. The brigade took part in [[Operation Dragoon]], the Allied invasion of Southern France, being the only British troops to do so (see [[2nd Parachute Brigade in Southern France]]).<ref>Harclerode, pp. 425–426</ref> In late 1944, the brigade was sent to Greece to support pro-Western forces in the [[Greek Civil War]], a forgotten but brutal episode now seen as the first act of the post-1945 [[Cold War]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nachmani |first1=Amikam |title=Civil War and Foreign Intervention in Greece: 1946–49 |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |date=1990 |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=490–494 |doi=10.1177/002200949002500406 |jstor=260759 |s2cid=159813355 }}</ref>
In 1938, the 5th Battalion transferred to the [[Royal Artillery]] as 60th Anti-Tank Regiment and in 1939, added a 2nd-Line duplicate, 70th Anti-Tank Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nigelef.tripod.com/regtsumm.htm|title=Field Artillery Formations and Regiments of the Royal Artillery in World War 2|access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref> Unlike 1914–1918, there were relatively few service battalions, one being 11th (Home Defence) Battalion, raised in 1939 as part of the [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]].<ref name = RegtsRWF/> Formed in 1940, the 12th battalion became [[116th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery]] in January 1942 and served with [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division|53rd (Welsh) Division]] until disbanded in December 1944.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ware |first1=Jonathan |title=116 (Royal Welch) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |url=http://www.jonathanhware.com/116-rw-light-anti-aircraft-regiment.html |website=Jonathan Ware |access-date=1 April 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401110054/http://www.jonathanhware.com/116-rw-light-anti-aircraft-regiment.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Barton|first1=Derek|title=116 Light AA Regiment RA(TA)|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page110.html|website=The Royal Artillery 1939–1945|access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref>
===Post Second World War===
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==Victoria Crosses==
The following members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross:
* Captain [[Edward William Derrington Bell]], [[Crimean War]] (20 September 1854)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriacrossonline.co.uk/edward-w-d-bell-vc/4585969261|title=Edward William Derrington Bell VC, CB|publisher=The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria Cross and George Cross|access-date=
* Lieutenant [[Thomas Bernard Hackett]], [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]] (18 November 1857)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22248|page=1482|date=12 April 1859}}</ref>
* Company Sergeant Major [[Frederick Barter]], [[First World War]] (16 May 1915)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29210|page=6269|date=29 June 1915}}</ref>
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* Corporal [[James Llewellyn Davies]], First World War (31 July 1917)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30272|supp=y|page=9260|date=4 September 1917}}</ref>
* Corporal [[Joseph John Davies]], First World War (20 July 1916)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=26 September 1916 |page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>
* Lt-Colonel [[Charles Doughty-Wylie]], First World War (26 April 1915)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Freeman|first1=Colin|title=How Gertrude Bell Caused a Desert Storm|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/museums/10651309/How-Gertrude-Bell-caused-a-desert-storm.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/museums/10651309/How-Gertrude-Bell-caused-a-desert-storm.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Telegraph|date=21 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Private [[Albert Hill (VC)|Albert Hill]], First World War (20 July 1916)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=26 September 1916|page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>
* Colour-Sergeant [[Luke O'Connor]], Crimean War (20 September 1854)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=21971 |date=24 February 1857 |page=659 }}</ref>
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==Alliances==
The regiment had an alliance with the Canadian [[Royal 22nd Regiment|Royal 22e
==Regimental mascot==
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As a [[fusilier]] regiment, the RWF wore a [[hackle]], which consisted of a plume of white feathers mounted behind the cap-badge of the modern beret.<ref name=cemetery/> The full dress of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, as worn by the entire regiment until 1914, included a racoon-skin hat (bearskin for officers) with a white hackle and a scarlet tunic with the dark blue facings of a Royal regiment. This uniform continued to be worn by the RWF's Corps of Drums and the Regimental Pioneers until the merger of 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyc-techwriters.com/militaria/british_helmets1.htm|title=British Headdress (1856–current)|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref>
==Regimental Prayer==
The Regimental Collect (or prayer as it is also known as) was in Welsh:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oremus.org/labarum/booklets/regtcollectsprayerspdf.pdf |title=Regimental Collects|access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Tragwyddol Dduw, a gyfododd trwy dy nerth yr Arglwydd Iesu Grist o’r meirw, gynnal fe weddiwn, gwrhydri hynafol y Ffiwsilwyr Cymreig, fel yr oddefwn galedi yn ôl ei esiampl, ac y cyfodwn gydag ef i lewyrch fel yr hal yn dy deyrnas, trwy’r un Iesu Grist ein Harglwydd. Amen.}}
And in English:
{{blockquote|Eternal God, whose strength raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, uphold, we pray thee, the ancient valour of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, that we may ever endure hardship after his example, and may rise with him to shine as the sun in thy Kingdom, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.}}
== See also ==
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* [http://www.rwfia.org/index.htm Royal Welch Fusiliers in America]
* [http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/index.php The Royal Welch Fusiliers Forum]
* [http://www.colwyn-bayrwf.org.uk Colwyn Bay RWF Comrades Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024025447/http://www.colwyn-bayrwf.org.uk/ |date=24 October 2008 }}
* [http://www.clwyd-gwyneddacf.org.uk Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317142517/http://www.clwyd-gwyneddacf.org.uk/ |date=17 March 2010 }}
* [http://www.britisharmedforces.org/i_regiments/roywelchfus_index.htm British Light Infantry Regiments – Royal Welch Fusiliers]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140225230345/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers Royal Welch Fusiliers] – [[National Army Museum]]
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